Omar Saeed Tops Notables at Final Table, Wins Foxwoods Poker Classic
The final table of the Foxwoods Poker Classic $2,500 Championship played out Monday featuring a slew of notable players with impressive results, include David Paredes, Alex Rocha, Brian Altman, Chris Tryba and Curt Kohlberg.
However, WPT champs and WSOP bracelet winners didn't scare Omar Saeed, as he emerged victorious for a $119,270 payday. He got through a field of 220 to do so.
The finish doesn't quite match Saeed's best career cash, but it is his second six-figure score after running deep to 37th place in the 2012 WSOP Main Event for $191,646.
Official Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omar Saeed | $119,270 |
| 2 | Curt Kohlberg | $75,341 |
| 3 | Brian Altman | $48,591 |
| 4 | Todd Rebello | $39,265 |
| 5 | Chris Tryba | $29,450 |
| 6 | David Paredes | $23,559 |
| 7 | Alex Rocha | $19,142 |
| 8 | Dominick Pelli | $15,706 |
| 9 | Brock Wilson | $12,277 |
The tournament had a $400,000 guarantee and well exceeded that total with a prize pool just under $500,000. Michael Vela, Nick Pupillo and Andy Frankenberger were among the 24 players who cashed though missed making the final day.
Frankenberger bubbled championship Monday when, according to the live updates, he went down in 10th place after flopping top pair with ace-queen only to run into Brock Wilson's ace-king.
Final Table Action
Kohlberg, who had already won an impressive five trophies at the venue, many under the World Poker Finals banner, went into the final table essentially tied with Saeed for the lead. Both players had well over 100 big blinds and a big gap over third-place Wilson.
However, bracelet winner Tryba would be the star of the show early. He five-bet shipped on Saeed and showed a six, then coolered Wilson with kings over ace-king to bust him and take the lead.
It took several levels before more dominoes would fall, but eventually Dominick Pelli went out eighth, followed by Rocha in seventh when he lost a flip to Altman.
Paredes found one lucky double when he three-outed Kohlberg, but would still go out next. Paredes called off his last 12 big blinds in a blind-versus-blind spot against Altman, but his K?9? was behind A?4?. Paredes didn't pair up and had to settle for sixth.
Early success didn't continue for Tryba and he was down to 700,000 at 15,000/30,000/5,000 when he chose to cold four-bet shove with A?J? after a raise, call and reraise in front. Unfortunately for him, three-bettor Saeed held the goods with A?K? and avoided the bad beat for the knockout to grab the lead and nearly half of the total chips.
Todd Rebello was Altman's next victim in a blinds battle, this time picking up ace-ten when Altman held ace-king. That one went the way of Big Slick as well, reducing the field to three.
After break, a cooler went down that sent Altman packing and secured Saeed as the favorite. Altman opened the pot and Saeed defended his big blind, and the two saw an 8?6?2? flop. Saeed checked, Altman bet 100,000 and Saeed made it 325,000. Altman called and then called off his last 1.4 million on the 10? turn, but his pocket jacks were in bad shape against Saeed's slow played aces and Altman didn't spike a jack on the river.
That left start-of-day leaders Kohlberg and Saeed, but this time Saeed was well in front with about a 2-to-1 lead. Kohlberg pulled off a big bluff early and seemed to have the tide turned as he moved in front. However, Saeed flopped top two with Q?8? and doubled through Kohlberg's kings.
Another lucky flop followed wherein Saeed flopped top two against Kohlberg's top pair, and Kohlberg missed out on adding yet another Foxwoods title when he couldn't find help on the turn or river.
